The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-06-25

figure. which sped nimbly along ih
narrow way.
A sharp chorus OF rcyolvcrs fol-
lowed; shot after shot was fired. and
then the dark figure wayercd, the
hands grasped wildly at the air. and
then there was a fall.
The water delugcd Muriel with a
shower of drops rs the body entered
the water. Shouts and the exultant
retreating voices held her attention
until she felt something creeping into
the boat behind her.
She turned and uttered faint
snriek.
A man, and more than likely the
murderer, had taken possession OF her
little craft.
Give me the oars" said stern
musical voice.
"You are not wounded, thanpn she
said, shrinking away from the drip
ping figure.
IL am not wounded" returned the
voice. and then silently the boat was
rowed into the deepest shadows and
up the stream.
Moment after moment crept by.
The moon went down, darkness fell
entirely over the sluggish waves Of the
river, and yet the strange pair were
silent.
The high banks disappeared, the
stream grew narrower, and at length
the stranger drew the boat close up to
the shore.
Madame" said the figure. bending
close up TO Muriel. "tcll me what YOU
think about this affair."
II think that YOU have shot some
one" replied Muriel, awakening par
italy from the trance-like feeling
which had crept over her.
you are right. Tonight became
the murderer of Fred Warner"
Fired Warner is my husband, and
was on the river listening TO his voice,
she said i'm the same calm tone.
"You will hear his voice no more.
The woman that he brought To Rocky
Hill is my wife.
And then Muriel knew the name of
the man who had rowcd her boat that
night.
IL was Ralph Resscguie, the banker
and the millionaire, whose home and
happiness her husband had ruined.
She had never met him before, but
she had heard often of his generosity
and of his great wealth.
God have mercy tonight upon four
OF his miserable crcaturesw she said
still calmly,
Three corrected Resseguie grim
". ''Muriel Warner. know the en-
tire history of your life. learned IL
while / was hunting your husband
down. l ask no sympathy | have
done deliberate murder. ] do not
wish you To conceal the mode of my
escape. Fred Warner was your hus-
band. He would have returned TO you
after time. l have made tins inn
possible. You have neither home nor
friends. l have money. the accursed
stuff with which | bought my wife. In
a short time shall be hung for muir
der. have no relations upon whom
to bestow my wealth. II will all 20 to
strangers Accept this packet, then;
and cannot Ice but thankful for the
chance which has thrown you in my
way
A packet dropped into Muricl War
ner's lap as these words were spoken.
The boat rocked slightly rs the tall
figure sprang upon the shore. and then
she was alone in the darkness upon
the river.
After this she wandered about the
world a woman whose life and feel
ings seemed benumbed for ever. She
knew what had happened at Rocky
Hill. but she had no desire To return
there. and gaze upon the dead face of
her husband She had no wish 10 re-
turn 10 the friends who had grown
cold when misfortune came upon her.
She knew that Ralph Resseguie had
made her wealthy woman, but she
felt none of the seruples which she
once would have felt about accepting
his money
She never spoke Of that night in the
boat with any To whom she came in
contact
She never heard whether Ralph
Resseguie was captured or not She
never knew what became 81 his miser-
able wife.
Her past life seemed a halfforgotten
dream, and she was only dimly con-
scious Of the reality of ANYTHING
AT thirty-iivc years of age, Muriel
Warner was "A beautiful and cultured
woman. She had visited nearly all
the countries Of the Old World Ac-
quaintances she made. but never
friends. and these often wondered
when, in reply TO their enquiries, she
would say:
81 never read a newspaper. never
write nor receive n letter.
But her time of awakening came.
A - A